Wall trim



June 4, 1940- c. WOLLAEGER WALL THIN Filed Dec. 9, 1937 INVENTOR g Mafi J, 7 ATTORNEY Patented June 4, 1940 PATENT OFFICE- WALL TRIM Clarence G. Wollaeger, Milwaukee, Wis., asslgnor to Milcor Steel Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a. corporation of Delaware Application December 9, 1937, Serial No. 178,893

4 Claims.

This invention relates to trim structure for walls and the like, and especially 'to structure used to trim the interior walls of buildings adjacent the floor thereof.

A purpose of the invention is toprovide an improved trim structure adapted to be constructed of metal and providing a front portion which may be removably secured in position without use of exposed fastening means such as screws or nails, the manipulation of which might mar the exposed surface.

, A further purpose is to provide such a trim structure in which a front portion is held tightly against the associated wall but is easily and conveniently adjustable relative to its supporting structure in a plane parallel to the face of the wall.

A further purpose is to provide a trim structure having a removable front portion in' combination with improved supporting and retaining structure therefor.

A further purpose is generally to improve the construction and operation of wall trim, both as to the exposed portion and its supporting structure.

The invention includes the particular trim structure herein illustrated, described and claimed, and such modifications thereof as are equivalent to the structure claimed.

The same reference characters have been used to identify the same parts throughout the specification, and in the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through a portion of a building side wall and fioor and through an associated trim incorporating the invention in a preferred form.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of section and surface portions of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modification of the trim structure.

'In Figs. 1, 2 the side wall of the building includes a main wall or structural portion l0 which maybe of various materials such as brick, tile, wood etc., and a facing portion ll which may be of plaster, or other suitable material, the portion ll terminating at a level sufficiently. above the upper surface of a floor I! to provide a recess underneath the facing portion ll and bebind the vertical plane of its front surface.

A retaining strip l3 includes a portion l3a fixed to the main wall It, as by suitable fasteners l4, another portion lib extended to support the facing ll, and a downwardly projecting portion I30. 66 Where the wall has a plaster facing, as here shown, the front portion l3c acts as a screed for applying the plaster. I

A bottom member I5 is of horizontally extends ed channel form and has fixed thereon in any suitable manner, as by spot welding, spaced members such as l6, which may be fixed with the wall lll, as by suitable fasteners l1, and which provide an upwardly open hook formed retaining portion Ilia having an upwardly projecting element llib. The members l6 also provide an upwardly extended portion lGc which is provided on its face with vertically spaced horizontal notches such as llid.

' A front member l8 has an exposed front wall l8a which provides at its upper edge a downwardly open hook formed retaining portion including a downwardly projecting element l8b engaging behind the upwardly projecting element l6b. At its lower edge the member l8 carries a downwardly open hook formed retaining portion I which includes a downwardly projecting element [8d of suflicient resiliency to permit an element llle to be alternatively engaged with various of the notches lid for spacing the member l8 at various levels but is sufliciently rigid to retain member l8 laterally.

In the structure described the front wall member l8a is conveniently removable and replaceable without requiring manipulation of screws or similar fasteners, and is vertically adjustable when in placeyas for instance to be fitted closely to floor coverings, such as IQ, of various thickness. The structure provides a closed space 20 extended laterally around the wall behind the front member H3, in which wiring etc. may be concealed, but which is readily accessible upon removing the front member, which may be easily done by raising the member sufliciently to disengage the hook formed portions l8b, I80 from the complementary hook formed portions ,of the. members It. The front member may be equally easily replaced by reversing the process, and when replaced may be retained at various levels by engaging the element l8e in different of the notches ltd.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a. modification of the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2, in which a front member 25 is adjustably retained against the surface of a wall II by the means of a channel like member 26 providing a recess or interior channel such as 21, and which has oppositely projecting cars such as 26a, 26b for fasteners such as 28, the ears being spaced at suitable intervals and, in this instance, formed of metal from the member 26, leaving correspondingly spaced apertures such as 260. A hook formed portion 26d provides spaced notches 26ewhich may be alternatively engaged by a member 250. for changing the relative positions of front member 25 in a plane parallel to the face of the wall, the member 26 also providing a portion 26! which is engaged by a hook formed portion 25b of the member 25. The hok forming portion 26d and the upward extension 261, in thisexample, each provide a screed for applying the plaster wall facing. Similarly to the structure of Figs. 1, 2, the structure of Fig. 3 retains the front member 25 closely but adjustably against the wall, while permitting of adjustment of the front member relative to its supporting structure.

What is claimed'is:

1. In a wall base trim the combination of a rear upper portion, a rear lower portion and a removable front portion; said rear upper portion being laterally extended and providing a front downwardly directed part, said rear lower portion being laterally extended, and engaged behind said downwardly directed part, and providing a plurality of upward extensions respectively ad-.

jacent to the top of the rear lower portion and in frontof said downwardly directed part, and adjacent to the bottom of the rear lower portion, said front portion having upper and lower downwardly extended hook members respectively engaged behind the different upward extensions of said rear lower portion, said front member bein retained for vertical adjustment by the engaged hook members and removable by upwardly disengaging said hookmembers from said upward extensions.

2. In a wall base trim the combination of a rear upper portion, a rear lower portion and a removable front portion; said rear upper portion being laterally extended and providing a front downwardly directed part, said rear lower portion being laterally extended, and engaged behind said downwardly directed part, and providing a plurality of upward extensions respectively adjacent to the top of the rear lower portion and in front ofisaid downwardly directed part,and adjacent to' the bottom of the rear lower portion, said front portion having upper and'lower downwardly extended hook members respectively engaged behind the different upward extensions of said rear lower portion, said front member being retained for vertical adjustment by the.

engaged hook members and removable by upwardly disengaging said hook members from said upward extensions, one ofthe hook members engaged with one of the upward extensions providing spacing elements yieldably engaged to 1 define one of the positions of said-vertical adjustment of said front portion.

3. In a wall base trim the combination of a rear upper portion, a rear lower portion and a removable front portion, said rear upper portion being fixed to the wall'and extended forwardly to provide a recess thereunder, and providing a downward extension at the front thereof, said rear lower portion at its upper edge engaging behind said downward extension and providing an upward extension in front of said downward extension, said removable front portion having retaining means including a downward extension engaging behindsaid upward extension.

4. In a wall base trim the combination of a tion having retained means including a down-.

ward extension engaging behind said upward extension, and other means for retaining said adjustable front portion including means yieldably determinative of various positions of vertical adjustment thereof.

CLARENCE G. wonmrx'nra-= 

